THE Ministry of iTaukei Affairs permanent secretary Naipote Katonitabua statement to the Police includes the Ministry’s observation on issues being raised by the iTaukei community.

Mr Katonitabua clarified this while being cross-examined by Wylie Clarke of Howards Lawyers in the Fiji Times sedition trial currently being held at the High Court in Suva before Justice Thushara Rajasinghe.

The court heard that Mr Katonitabua’s statement was a total of 10 pages – Mr Katonitabua agreed that he did not discuss the statement or its contents with anybody prior giving his statement to police.

Mr Katonitabua said his statement did not go to the Minister responsible for Itaukei Affairs, which is the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama however did confirm having verbally informed the PM after the complaint was lodged with police.